World War II Veterans Clash In Ukraine

RADIO FREE EUROPE- RADIO LIBERTY: World War II Veterans Clash In Kyiv

15 October 2005


Tempers flared and minor clashes broke out in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv today as World War II veterans and their supporters held competing rallies.

Veterans of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, who say they fought both Nazi forces and Soviet soldiers in a bid to create an independent Ukraine, rallied to demand recognition and benefits.

They clashed with veterans of the Soviet Red Army, who accused them of treachery and Nazi collaboration.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

Guardian: Red Army Veterans Clash With Partisans

Thousands of aging Red Army veterans and their supporters clashed Saturday in downtown Kiev with partisans who fought the Soviets and Nazis during World War II and now want pensions and official recognition as veterans.

"I hate these partisans, they spilled our blood,'' said World War II veteran Oleksandr Shchutskiy, whose green jacket shone with medals.

Thousands of Red Army veterans and their supporters - waving red flags and chanting ``Get out!'' and ``Shame!'' - marched in counter protest, blocking the advance of the partisans' supporters, as Soviet war songs played over loudspeakers. Some Red Army supporters grabbed at the flags of the nationalists and set them on fire.

Riot police separated the groups on the capital's main artery, Kreshchatyk, pulling away participants. There did not appear to be any major injuries or arrests made. No one answered the phone at Kiev police headquarters.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

RIA Novosti: Ukrainian nationalists set to march in Kiev Saturday

13/ 10/ 2006


A number of Ukrainian nationalist parties and public organizations plan to hold a march on Saturday dedicated to the 64th anniversary of the Ukrainian Insurgents Army (UPA), an independent guerilla group formed in WWII that fought for national independence, the Kiev administration said Friday.

The march has met with strong opposition from the Eurasian Youth Movement, the People's Opposition Bloc led by Natalia Vitrenko, and the Communist Party of Ukraine, who pledge to ban the event.

The city administration said about 4,000 police will be on hand to ensure security during the march.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

MosNews: Radical Communists Clash With Police in Ukraine Rallies

14.10.2006


Fists, clubs, and riot shields were used in the brawl. PSPU activists and police were roughly evenly matched in the 10-minute melee, until a paramilitary police unit fired an ’unspecified gas’ into the crowd, dispersing the combatants.

An estimated 5,000 former partisans, their supporters, and a small minority of partisan opponents had gathered in the centre of the Ukrainian capital Kiev by mid-morning. Police presence was heavy with more than 4,000 uniformed law enforcers on hand. The marchers were generally peaceful, although pro- and anti-partisan demonstrators repeatedly insulted each other verbally, across police cordons.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.